Category:Metals

MaterialInfoBox Metal
Synonyms:	DE: Metall
Suggested Tools:	e.g. twist drill bits, taps and dies, hacksaws, milling table, hammers, disc grinder

As is the case with "plastic" and "wood", the term "metal" refers to many different materials with sometimes drastically different properties. If you were led to this page by a link on a tool page, that does not mean that tool can deal with all metals. Rather, the writers wanted to show that common metals are appropriate or simply weren't sure which one they are talking about - please do some additional research and add details/more precise links if you know more!

Metals share some characteristics like electric conductivity (some more, some less) and a shiny surface, but may differ in any of the following and more:

• hardness
• density ("weight")
• ability to be magnetized
• melting point (usually pretty high)
• heat conductivity
  • ability to be welded
  • ability to be soldered
• susceptibility to corrosion (e.g. rusting)
• suitability for recycling

To make things even more complicated, there are tons of alloys combining properties of different elemental metals...

Marking

• removable: oil pastels
• more permanent, but finer: scriber
• irreversible: laser engraving with laser marking spray.

Sheet Metal

MaterialInfoBox Sheet Metal
Synonyms:	DE: Bleche
Suggested Tools:	e.g. snips, step drill bits, rivet gun, scroll saw

While many metalworking tools can deal with metal workpieces in nearly any shape, some are specific to sheet metal. See above for notes on different metals - not all sheet metals are the same!

Thicknesses vary as well, if you notice a tool can not safely handle your workpieve anymore do not attempt anything foolish and please note your observation on the tool's page.

Drilling into Metal

There are several methods to produce a hole in a metal workpiece but drilling is the easiest and most common in a hobby setting. Make sure to use twist drill bits suited for your specific metal and drill at a slow speed and high pressure to obtain long swarfs (DE: Späne). Cutting fluid, which we do not have yet, may be needed to cool the drill bit.